Bus loads of fans ready for annual shed-tacular
‘‘When you’re driving down the street you don’t know what’s behind the closed doors.’’
But Southland man Ken Bowie has a fair idea, as he’s worked on the annual Blokes and Sheds Bus Tour, and is getting ready for the
18th event. It’s been nearly two decades since the annual fundraiser for Southland Boys’ High School began.
From the manliest of man caves, to the quirkiest of collections, people have opened their shed doors to hundreds of tour blokes and blokettes.
Eighteen years ago Ken Bowie had recently undergone surgery for
bowel cancer, but was determined to push ahead with the regions first ever Blokes and Sheds Mystery Tour.
‘‘If you told me back then that all these years later I’d be doing it still I’d be surprised. I thought I mightn’t be here for the second,’’ he said.
This year the tour is held on September 9 – meeting at
Southland Boys’ High School.
There had been little to no change since its inception, Bowie said.
‘‘We don’t alter the formula, the fact that it’s still going shows it works. In 18 years it’s become a bit of an institution.’’
Last year about 130 people attended. It’s hoped 150 people would attend this year.
Hidden gems inside sheds include restored cars, collections, clothing, models and farming machinery.
‘‘When you’re driving down the street you don’t know what’s behind the closed doors,’’ Bowie said.
Bar a couple which had changed from a previous tour, sheds were new each year.